An Increasing Number of Workers Say, ‘I Quit!’

Here’s an encouraging sign on the job front: More people are telling the boss, "I quit!" "See ya!" "Sayonara!" and "Later, 'gator!” than they were last year.

John Lund | Drew Kelly | Blend Images | Getty Images

Remember that during a recession, it's a boss’s market and overworked, underappreciated workers are acutely aware that the office mantra is “You’re lucky to have a job.” Well finally, it’s a quitter’s market.

First of all, there are more people changing jobs. A recent survey found that 22 percent of employed Americans have changed jobs in the past year, up from 18 percent a year earlier.

Even better, more people are changing jobs because they want to. Of the people who have changed jobs in the past year, 44 percent said it was their choice, up from 31 percent a year earlier, according to the survey, conducted by job web site Snagajob.

At the same time, the number of people changing jobs because they were fired or laid off decreased to 22 percent from 34 percent a year ago.

“The fact that more workers are looking for — and finding — new positions proactively shows that some employers are indeed hiring aggressively and that opportunity is available for attractive candidates,” said Shawn Boyer, the CEO of Snagajob.

If you’re looking to be part of this trend and quit your job, first, a word of advice.

“Leaving a job is like ending a relationship: If you have to go, at least do it gracefully,” said Matt Wallaert, the lead scientist at GetRaised.com, a salary-recommendation site. “Recognize that there are emotions involved, that past employers can impact your future employment, and that how you leave a job is as important as you how you start one.”

As much as you might want to set your cube on fire to literally go out in a blaze of glory, keep a level head.

“Be decisive, clear and do as much as you can to accommodate the needs of your employer so it is minimally inconvenient for them,” Wallaert advised. And remember: “No one ever got ahead by breaking things on their way out!”

Comedian Harrison Greenbaumputs it another way: “People leaving their jobs should consider an old saying I've revised for these new economic times: ‘Winners never quit and quitters never win, unless the contest is to see who quits the best.’”

You may not immediately win a medal for being the best quitter, but it WILL keep those people in your network — and willing to hire you again.

And, for all you employees out there who love to complain about how bad you have it — poor me can you believe this bulls--- I have to put up with — I’m sorry, your time is up. Your watercooler complaint show has been canceled.

The job market is starting to loosen up and no one wants to hear your complaints anymore. If you don’t like your job, become a statistic and change jobs.

It’s like those Swiffer commercials: The piece of dust or mud that thinks it can’t find love, tucked between a kitchen tile or your computer keyboard, only for the Swiffer mop to swoop in, hit the button on the boom box for “What About Love” and sweep them up into bliss.

Top 10 Reasons to Quit. It's true, jobs are like relationships and sometimes you're so close to the misery you just don't know when to get out. Here are the Top 10 Reasons to Quit Your Jobfrom About.com.